“Kiki’s Delivery Service(Studio Ghibli Official)” is a 1989 animated feature film directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
This time, I’d like to reflect on the charms and story of “Kiki’s Delivery Service” by looking back at its characters and voice actors. What kind of people were the characters in “Kiki’s Delivery Service”?
Please be aware that the following text contains sudden spoilers.
*This article is an English translation of the original Japanese article, “「魔女の宅急便」でキキが出会った先輩魔女は、何故あんなに「嫌な奴」だったのか?“
Let an AI walk you through the highlights of this post in a simple, conversational style.
- “Kiki’s Delivery Service” Main Characters & Voice Actors List
- Character Profiles and Analysis
- Kiki | Voice Actor: Kirsten Dunst
- Jiji | Voice Actor: Phil Hartman
- Kokiri | Voice Actor: Kath Soucie
- Okino | Voice Actor: Jeff Bennett
- Tombo | Voice Actor: Matthew Lawrence
- Senior Witch | Voice Actor: Debi Derryberry
- Osono | Voice Actor: Tress MacNeille
- Fukuo | Voice Actor: Brad Garrett
- Ursula | Voice Actor: Janeane Garofalo
- Madame | Voice Actor: Debbie Reynolds
- Madame’s Granddaughter | Voice Actor: Sherry Lynn
- Maki | Voice Actor:Julia Fletcher
- Jeff
- Man with Push Broom | Voice Actor: Jeff Bennett
- Other Characters
“Kiki’s Delivery Service” Main Characters & Voice Actors List
Name | Age | Voice Actor (English Dub) |
---|---|---|
![]() Kiki | 13 | Kirsten Dunst |
![]() Jiji | 13 | Phil Hartman |
![]() Kokiri | 37 | Kath Soucie |
![]() Okino | 40 | Jeff Bennett |
![]() Tombo/Kopori | 13 | Matthew Lawrence |
![]() Senior Witch | ?[1] | Debi Derryberry |
![]() Osono | 26 | Tress MacNeille |
![]() Fukuo (Osono’s Husband) | 40 | John Hostetter |
![]() Ursula | 18 | Janeane Garofalo |
![]() Madame | 70 | Debbie Reynolds |
![]() Madame’s Granddaughter | ? | Sherry Lynn |
![]() Maki | ? | Julia Fletcher |
![]() Man with Push Broom | ? | Jeff Bennett |
- [1]
- From the senior witch’s statement that “my training will be over soon,” we can infer she is at least 14 years old. Also, if we take the stance that the women in “Kiki’s Delivery Service” collectively depict the life of “one woman,” then since Ursula, who appears later, is 18, the senior witch would likely be between 14 and 17 years old.
Character Profiles and Analysis
Kiki | Voice Actor: Kirsten Dunst

Kiki’s Basic Information
The protagonist of the story, 13 years old. Following the “witch’s custom,” she leaves her parents to embark on a journey to find “her own town.”
With her mother’s broom in hand, she arrives in a “town by the sea,” but the “welcoming mood” she expected was nonexistent. On top of that, she almost got into trouble with the police after losing control of her broom.
However, before her appeared what could be called a “lifeline” or a “goddess of fate”—Osono, the baker.
Kiki Miraculously Gains a Base, and the Senior Witch
In the end, Osono took a liking to Kiki, and she was able to secure a base in the town. This didn’t mean Kiki’s journey was over; it was just beginning. But being able to secure a place to shelter from the wind and rain right away was extremely important.
Here, we should consider whether every 13-year-old witch in that world could meet someone like Osono, or if they could find a base so quickly.
Perhaps that’s the case. The possibility is never zero. However, wouldn’t it be more common not to be able to find a base? After all, they are only 13.
So, how did most witches complete their “custom”? I’ve summarized my thoughts on that in the following article:

It seems meaningful that the senior witch appeared before Kiki as an “unpleasant person.”
Kiki Loses Her Ability to Fly
The biggest incident in “Kiki’s Delivery Service” is arguably Kiki losing her ability to fly. For Kiki, whose only special skill was “flying,” being unable to fly was a serious problem.
This was clearly triggered by the following two “incidents”:
- The “Herring Pie” Unwelcome Incident
- The Unpleasant Incident with Tombo’s Friends
Now, why did Kiki’s power weaken due to these incidents?
In truth, the answer is that this question itself is wrong. In other words, Kiki’s power was weak to begin with.
You could call it being “unbeatable in her hometown” or having a “baseless sense of invincibility.” As long as she was in her hometown, she could remain an excellent witch with the power to fly. However, such power becomes worthless the moment she leaves her hometown (though it might still have meaning).
She had to show people a new value beyond being “unbeatable in her hometown.” But that is not an easy thing to do.
Because Kiki met Osono, a “miraculous person,” she was able to come up with the plan of a “delivery service,” but that did not guarantee “success.” The “path laid out for Kiki” in the work “Kiki’s Delivery Service” ends there.
With those two incidents, Kiki finally came to fully realize that she was “powerless.” “Powerless” means being in a situation where all your past accumulations are meaningless.
That’s why Kiki could no longer fly as she used to. In other words, she realized that the altitude she previously thought was “high” was not high at all. In the end, she was placed in a situation where she had to learn anew, accumulate, output, fail again, and learn again.
Witches embark on a journey at 13 to learn such realities. Because what seems like a remarkable talent might not be so great after all.
Considering it this way, “Kiki’s Delivery Service” can be said to be a work that expresses the “theory of talent” of director Hayao Miyazaki, who possessed a rare talent and fully utilized it.
The dialogue between Ursula and Kiki was extremely impressive in this story.
In essence, she was learning how to handle a difficult situation when what you have is no longer enough. And that, no matter how you look at it, is likely Hayao Miyazaki’s own thought process.
To summarize, the reason Kiki couldn’t fly after that incident is that she faced a fact she had never experienced before and realized that her own power was not that great. It also means that Kiki was finally able to see herself in a relative perspective.
Jiji | Voice Actor: Phil Hartman

Jiji’s Basic Information
Kiki’s partner. A mysterious cat who can understand human language. He was a very good buddy, but at the same time Kiki lost her ability to fly, Jiji stopped speaking human language. This seems to have remained unchanged even after the end of the story, and he appears to be enjoying his life (cat-life) as a “normal cat” with a family.
Why did Jiji stop speaking human language, and why did it stay that way at the end?
It’s somewhat understandable that Jiji stopped speaking human language at the same time Kiki lost her ability to fly. If we think that Jiji wasn’t speaking human language, but rather Kiki was understanding his cat language through her magical power, it provides a plausible explanation, and Kiki herself said, “I can’t understand Jiji’s words anymore.” However, thinking this way makes it impossible to achieve overall consistency. There are two problems:
- It contradicts the perception that her only special skill is “flying.”
- The contradiction that she can’t understand Jiji’s words at the end, even though she can fly again.
In that case, it would mean that Jiji was the one speaking human language. Even though he’s a cat.
So, why did Jiji stop speaking human language? I think there are several facts that serve as hints:
- No one in the story ever sees Kiki and Jiji talking to each other.
- The fact that Jiji, a living cat, was able to pretend to be a stuffed animal.
Although Jiji talks eloquently with Kiki, they only ever talk when they are alone. When other people are around, or when they are being perceived by others, they never talk.
Furthermore, the fact that he managed to pretend to be a stuffed animal despite being a living cat is questionable. Is such a thing possible? Of course not! So what does this mysterious fact mean? I have summarized my personal thoughts on this in the following article:

Why did Jiji stop speaking human language?
Kokiri | Voice Actor: Kath Soucie

Kokiri’s Basic Information
Kiki’s mother. Although her screen time is extremely short, she is the person who did the essential work of propelling the story of “Kiki’s Delivery Service” forward. That is, she gave Kiki her own broom.
Why did she give Kiki her own broom?
As is common in Miyazaki’s works, there are phenomena that seem unquestionable when watched normally, but become mysterious when you think about them a little.
The scene where Kokiri gives Kiki her own broom is one of them.
Somehow, the scene has a persuasive power that makes you think, “that’s just how it is,” but when you think about it seriously, the basic structure of this work becomes visible.
Kiki trying to leave on a broom she made herself is an expression of her youthfulness, such as “not yet seeing herself” or “not knowing the vastness of the world,” or her “unfounded sense of invincibility.” Of course, the witch’s custom probably exists to grow beyond such “childish pride,” and I think Kiki understood this in her head. However, her actual action was the misguided one of “making her own broom.”
Kiki thought that relying on the many things she could depend on around her would not be overcoming the “custom.” In a way, her logic makes sense, but she is in the middle of the error we all fall into: “prioritizing the means over the end.” And Kiki doesn’t even realize it.
What is important for her should be to overcome the “custom,” not to overcome the “custom” with a broom she made herself. But she voluntarily put handcuffs and shackles on herself and was about to start the game on hard mode without being asked.
On the other hand, Kokiri knows the harshness of daily life imposed by that “custom.” This is also related to what I wrote briefly in the following article:

Leaving home at 13 to find “your own town” is extremely difficult (at least, I don’t think I could have done it).
Moreover, you don’t know what kind of town you will accidentally find. It’s not necessarily a peaceful “town by the sea” like the one Kiki arrived at. Osono may not be there. Even if she is, you might not meet her.
Because Kiki doesn’t understand the fundamental difficulties of a journey based on such a “custom,” she tries to leave on her own broom. And because Kokiri understands these difficulties, she gave Kiki her own broom, which boasted history and実績, with the thought of “at least at maximum acceleration!”
In other words, the broom Kokiri gave Kiki is a symbol of “the wisdom of our predecessors.”
“Youth” is often thinking that there is meaning in not relying on such things, but it’s better to use what you can. It’s not a bad thing at all.
Though the wisdom I can pass on to others is not much.
Okino | Voice Actor: Jeff Bennett

Okino’s Basic Information
Kiki’s father. He has the appearance of the father from “My Neighbor Totoro,” but he is a person from whom all “toxicity” has been removed. I think his characteristic is that there is nothing more to say about him.
However… his fundamental humanity lies in the fact that he is Kiki’s father. In other words, he is the husband of the witch Kokiri.
How “witches” are treated in that world is slightly understood through Kiki’s experiences. People recognize their existence (it’s amazing, right?) but don’t think of them as beings to be revered. They might even find them troublesome. That makes sense; they fly around in the sky as they please, and the more excellent their talent, the more power they have to confuse people.
What kind of man would be interested in and marry such a person?
I think he was probably a person like Tombo.
To state their humanity in a very positive way, I think they are “people who can be just a little outside of common sense and can see the person in front of them as they are.”
To put it badly, they are “weirdos.”
However, the people who can be near great talent are probably a little “weird.” He seems like a character with no particular features, but I think Okino is as interesting a man as Tombo.
Tombo | Voice Actor: Matthew Lawrence

Tombo’s Basic Information
A boy in the town Kiki arrived at. The person who “saved”(?) Kiki, who was being questioned by the police, with the single word “Thief!”
He has a very bright and positive personality and a wide circle of friends. He is the first “friend” Kiki makes in her new land.
Unexpected Friendships
Tombo became an acquaintance of Kiki’s generation with his innate curiosity and humanity, but he was by no means a complete “safe zone” for Kiki.
Unlike her friends in her hometown, Tombo had a circle of friends that Kiki could not grasp. While this is natural, for Kiki, who had no other acquaintances of her generation besides Tombo, learning this fact actually increased her sense of alienation and loneliness.
On the other hand, Kiki also realized her own pettiness, and she had to face a problem that she couldn’t handle with her past accumulations.
However, after overcoming this, Kiki finally regained her ability to fly, and it can be seen in the ending animation that she expanded her human relationships using Tombo as a hub.
Tombo, you did a good job.
Senior Witch | Voice Actor: Debi Derryberry

Senior Witch’s Basic Information
Kiki’s senior witch, who is finishing her training period according to the “custom.” She was the person who drove the first wedge into the story of “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” which began with Kiki’s youthful resolve and overflowing warmth.
She was a person with a somehow unpleasant atmosphere, but there seem to be several reasons for this.
I think it was mostly for meta reasons, but I have summarized my personal thoughts on why she appeared at that moment in the story of “Kiki’s Delivery Service” in the following article:

Why was the senior witch Kiki met so “unpleasant”?
Osono | Voice Actor: Tress MacNeille

Osono’s Basic Information
The mistress of the “Guchokipanya” bakery, where Kiki miraculously found a place to stay.
To put it simply, she is a very kind and caring person, and the conditions for lodging were unbelievably favorable: “no rent, no phone bill, and breakfast included,” as long as she answered the phone and watched the store.
You can be satisfied with this as just “kindness,” but it seems to me that Osono had some other motives.
The most important thing is that Osono is pregnant and almost full-term. This means that Osono had been working at the store until the very last minute, but her work at the bakery was reaching its limit.
Under such circumstances, one strategy that could be considered is to reduce the production of bread and have Osono’s husband handle the customer service.
But what about that? Could that man handle customer service?
Maybe he could. He would probably try his best. But the store’s reputation might falter.
In that case, closing the store for a certain period is also a conceivable strategy. But if they take a break, how many days will they be closed? There would be no income during that time. Even though her husband can bake bread just fine.
I think Osono was also in a very difficult situation, but then a “girl with nowhere to go” conveniently appeared. It could be said that for Osono, Kiki was also a “lifeline.”
To put it bluntly, Osono found the cheapest labor force.
Furthermore, to take a more cynical view, it seems that for Osono, the room Kiki stayed in was a “place she didn’t know how to handle.” Isn’t it possible that she used Kiki as a test subject for how to use that room?
As a result, Kiki cleaned it up and realized the fact of “lodging,” which increases the use of that room. Kiki will eventually leave that room, but at that time, she can charge money to let someone else stay there. It can also be said that Osono secured a new source of income.
However, the important thing is that even if everything considered so far was correct, it doesn’t change the fact that Osono is a caring person. Whatever motives Osono had inside, they ultimately became a driving force in Kiki’s life.
The clear fact is that Osono provided a place for a girl with nowhere to go, and in fact, that’s all that matters. That’s how I see it.
Fukuo | Voice Actor: Brad Garrett
Fukuo’s Basic Information
Osono’s husband and a baker. He seems to be a man of few words with a craftsman’s spirit, but his good personality can be seen in his few appearances.
In a word, he is a plain existence, but he is also the only person in “Kiki’s Delivery Service” who recognized Jiji.
Ursula | Voice Actor: Janeane Garofalo

Ursula’s Basic Information
The person who was painting in the forest cabin where Kiki dropped her stuffed cat, 19 years old.
She agreed to repair the stuffed animal, which was damaged when it was dropped, on the condition of “cleaning her room.”
Although Tombo seemed to be becoming an “acquaintance” of her generation, for Kiki, who had no one to consult with, Ursula was probably the first “big sister” figure she could talk to after leaving her hometown.
However, even Ursula is still 19 years old and is a young person who has to overcome various difficulties. Perhaps for Ursula, the existence of Kiki might have become someone she could consult with as well.
Madame | Voice Actor: Debbie Reynolds

Madame’s Basic Information
The person who hired Kiki to deliver a “herring pie” for her granddaughter’s birthday.
In a way, she can be said to be the mastermind who made us experience the unforgettable “Herring Pie Incident” in our childhood.
That incident can be called a tragedy caused by the difference in perception with her granddaughter, with whom she does not live, but I think there is a more cynical view.
The Herring Pie as a Bomb
Now, no matter how nice a person seems, there can be something hidden behind their actions.
Did that old lady not know that her granddaughter disliked herring pie? It’s likely that her granddaughter said something like “Grandma’s pie is delicious~” during her childhood, and it’s also conceivable that she cherished such memories with her granddaughter for a long, long time.
However, it’s also possible that she was fully aware of the fact. If we stand on that assumption, the meaning of the old lady’s actions changes completely.
The old lady and her granddaughter do not live in the same house. This means that the old lady does not live with her own child’s couple either.
Perhaps she stubbornly continued to send herring pie, pretending it was for her granddaughter, so that they, who would not live with her, would not forget her existence.
I’m probably thinking about the situation with too much malice, but the reasons for people’s actions are sometimes not understood just from the surface.
Though I think the old lady really sent the herring pie because she thought her granddaughter liked it.
Madame’s Granddaughter | Voice Actor: Sherry Lynn

Basic Information
The person to whom Kiki delivered the herring pie at the request of the old lady.
For Kiki, she not only just delivered the herring pie, but she delivered what she had baked herself with great effort in a heavy rain. She must have had a very hard time with the granddaughter’s curt or somewhat hostile response.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who decided to “always respond to delivery people with a smile” after watching this “Herring Pie Incident.”
While it was certainly a pity for Kiki, it could also be seen as a good thing in that she learned that “hard work is not always rewarded as you wish” or “your goodwill is not always accepted positively.”
Earning a living is truly a difficult thing.
Maki | Voice Actor:Julia Fletcher

Maki’s Basic Information
Kiki’s first customer as a delivery person. She has a very stylish appearance, and it seems Kiki held a certain admiration for her.
She owns a proud-looking white cat, and eventually, Jiji ends up starting a family with that white cat.
Jeff

The dog owned by Maki’s nephew.
He not only let Jiji, who had succeeded in the seemingly impossible mission of “pretending to be a stuffed animal,” out of the house in the end, but also brought the stuffed animal back.
In reality, Kiki’s first job was a “failure,” but thanks to Ursula, Jiji, and Jeff, she was somehow able to make it a success. It may seem clumsy, but in the end, becoming indebted to many people in this way is also important.
I think it’s also very important in life not to get hung up on trivial things like “doing it all by myself.”
Man with Push Broom | Voice Actor: Jeff Bennett

Basic Information
The person from whom Kiki borrowed a broom at the end of the story when she needed to fly to save Tombo.
Although his appearance was extremely minor, considering that Tombo’s fate might have changed if Kiki had found the broom just a little later, he can be said to be a person who did a good job by “being there.”
It might be a good idea to walk around with a broom sometimes.
Other Characters
- Policeman | Matt K. Miller
- Announcer | Corey Burton
- Ket | Pamela Adlon
- Ket’s Mother | Julia Fletcher
- Ket’s Father | John DeMita
- Ket’s Grandmother | Julia Fletcher
- Miss Dora (Old woman who received medicine from Kokiri) | Fay Dewitt
- Clock Tower Caretaker | Lewis Arquette
- Truck Driver |Corey Burton
- Hotel Receptionist | Matt K. Miller
- Dirigible Captain | John Hostetter
The images used in this article are from “Studio Ghibli Work Stills“.
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